Sequential art means more than just drawing comic book art. While the traditional comic book still exists, the advent of the graphic novel and the need for storyboard artists for new media such as video games has given rise to a demand for educational training in sequential art. Several colleges across the country provide specific training in sequential art. Although they differ in the way they approach their degree and certificate programs, each helps students develop the right skills to work in this art form.
Savannah College of Art and Design
The Savannah College of Art and Design features a sequential art degree at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Although students receive a very serious sounding degree in "visual communication," the emphasis of this program could land its graduates straight in the funny papers. After taking classes to build their basic artistic skills including drawing, basic design and drawing for storyboarding, students immerse themselves in classes such as "Drawing for Sequential Art," "Survey of Sequential Art" and "Visual Storytelling." Additionally, the school gives students access to professionals in the business from companies including DC Comics, Marvel Comics and ONI Press.
Savannah College of Art and Design P.O. Box 3146 Savannah, GA 31402-3146 Savannah: 912-525-5000 Atlanta: 404-253-3100 Savannah/eLearning 912-525-5100 or 800-869-7223 Atlanta 404.253.2700 www2.scad.edu/sequential-art/
School of Visual Arts
Sequential art tells a story through a series of pictures. These pictures could even be called a visual essay, and this is exactly what the School of Visual Arts (SVA) calls its illustration program, which emphasizes sequential art. This program, available only at the graduate level, helps students develop into competent artists who specialize in figurative drawing. SVA students work to solidify drawing and painting skills as well as to develop skills in multimedia. Classes offered range from courses in visual essay, computer illustration and the history of storytelling with an emphasis in storytelling through comic books, graphic novels and digital media.
School of Visual Arts MFA Illustration as Visual Essay 209 E. 23 St. New York, NY 10010-3994 212-592-2210 mfaillustration@sva.edu schoolofvisualarts.edu/grad/index.jsp?sid0=2&sid1=32
Rhode Island School of Design
Ranked as the No. 1 school in the country for graduate art and design programs, the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) offers a certificate program in Comic/Sequential Art. The certificate programs at RISD are designed to augment an art program or to help working artists gain additional training to keep their skills current. The certificate programs are very hands-on and require two to four years of part-time work to complete. Students end the Comic/Sequential Art program with a professional practices course and a portfolio review.
RISD Admissions Office Two College St. Providence, RI 02903 401-454-6300 or 800-364-RISD (800-364-7473) risd.edu/ce_comic.cfm
Art Center College of Design
The Art Center College of Design is located just a stone's throw away from the bright lights of Hollywood, and the school's program in Illustration reflects that. The program features a fine arts and an entertainment arts track, and offers students skills that will teach them how to draw sequential art, including classes in storyboarding, drawing heads and hands, and sketching for entertainment. Graduates of the college go on to have careers as comics illustrators and storyboard artists as well as medical and advertising illustrators.
Art Center College of Design Hillside Campus 1700 Lida St. Pasadena, CA 91103
South Campus 950 South Raymond Ave. Pasadena, CA 91105 626-396-2373 artcenter.edu/accd/programs/undergraduate/illustration/course_of_study.jsp
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Writer Bio
Buffy Naillon has worked in the media industry since 1999, contributing to Germany's "Der Spiegel" magazine and various websites. She received a bachelor's degree in German from Boise State University. Naillon also attended New York University and participated in the foreign exchange program at Germany's Saarland University. She is completing her master's degree in educational technology at Boise State.